It had been two days since Elias was released from his cell. Two days since the tense confrontation with Prince Aedric. Two days that felt anything but freeing.
The walls of the Imperial Palace seemed to close in on him, more suffocating than any prison cell ever could be.
Elias walked down the grand hallways, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors.
The castle's luxury felt like a mockery of the isolation he experienced. Despite being officially freed, he felt far from liberated. The weight of unseen eyes followed his every move, and it was maddening.
Most of all, he could feel Prince Aedric's presence.
It didn't matter where Elias went — whether he strolled through the palace gardens, meditated in his temporary chambers, or took meals in the dining hall — Aedric was always nearby.
At first, Elias thought he was being paranoid. But it quickly became clear that the prince was shadowing him.
